Long‐range dipole–dipole energy transfer enhancement via addition of SiO 2 /TiO 2 nanocomposite in PFO/MEH‐PPV hybrid thin films

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2019-08, Vol.136 (32)
• Main Authors: Al‐Asbahi, Bandar Ali, Qaid, Saif M. H., Hj. Jumali, Mohammad Hafizuddin, AlSalhi, Mohamad Saleh, Aldwayyan, Abdullah S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.47845

Different weight ratios of poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl) (PFO)/poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV) hybrid thin films, with and without a SiO 2 /TiO 2 nanocomposite (NC), were successfully prepared using a solution blending method. All samples were deposited onto glass substrates by a spin coating technique to produce homogeneous thin films. The effect of the SiO 2 /TiO 2 NC on the enhancement of the energy transfer mechanism in the PFO/MEH‐PPV hybrids was investigated. The energy transfer parameters were calculated on the basis of the absorption and emission measurements. The long‐range dipole–dipole energy transfer (Förster type) between the acceptor and donor molecules was enhanced in the presence of the SiO 2 /TiO 2 NC in the hybrid thin films. The addition of the SiO 2 /TiO 2 NC in the PFO/MEH‐PPV hybrids reduced the distance between the donor and acceptor molecules more than the individual addition of SiO 2 or TiO 2 nanoparticles. Moreover, the direct relationships between the acceptor contents and energy transfer parameters, such as the energy transfer radius ( R DA ), energy transfer efficiency ( η ), and energy transfer probability ( P DA ), were estimated using theoretical fittings. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47845.